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UNLEASH THE GRIZZ

Oakland University Athletics

Scoreboard

HLWBB win vs IUI
62
Winner Oakland Oak 9-21,6-14 Horizon
56
IU Indy IUIndy 9-21,8-12 Horizon
Winner
Oakland Oak
9-21,6-14 Horizon
62
Final
56
IU Indy IUIndy
9-21,8-12 Horizon
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Oakland Oak 16 15 15 16 62
IU Indy IUIndy 15 18 19 4 56

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Jordan Nelson

Golden Grizzlies Survive and Advance as they Take Down Jags in HL Championship First Round

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Golden Grizzlies survive and advance in the Horizon League Championship as they move on to the quarterfinals after beating IU Indy 62-56 behind an immaculate defensive effort.

Maddy Skorupski registered her third 20 point game against IU Indy this season, going for 25 points, five assists, and five rebounds. Madison Royal-Davis also had an impressive game, recording double-digit rebounds for the second consecutive game, totalling 11 rebounds to go with four steals and three blocks.

Dani Grim also neared a double-double with eight points and seven rebounds, along with Kylie Buckley who amassed eight points and six rebounds.

Oakland opened up the game sharp on both sides, forcing the Jags into two tough empty possessions to start, as Lianna Baxter opened the scoring with a corner triple for the Golden Grizzlies.

Skorupski also opened up the game strong for Oakland, tallying four points in the first three minutes of action as Oakland narrowly trailed 7-8 early.

The two teams shot nearly identically from the field, with Oakland going 6-of-15 (.400 FG%) and IU Indy going 5-of-14 (.360 FG%) from the field as Oakland led 16-15 after the first ten minutes of play.

The Golden Grizzlies defense was on point and locked in to open the game, totalling four blocks, a pair of steals, and forcing six IU Indy turnovers as Oakland looked to push the pace.

IU Indy would retake the lead to begin the second quarter as Davidson and Logan Lewis knocked down back-to-back triples as the Jags went up 21-16. Grim would score a much needed layup for Oakland, stopping IU Indy's momentum from growing.

Oakland would fight to stay within striking distance, nailing four consecutive shots to tie the game at 27 with three minutes left in the first half.

IU Indy would drain four of their last five shots of the half, going a collective 6-of-10 (.600 FG%) from the floor, as the Golden Grizzlies went scoreless in the final 2:12 as the JAgs led 33-31 in a tightly contested half.

Oakland set the pace of the game, while still shooting .463 (6-of-13 FG) in the second quarter, but four triples in the second from IU Indy created the slight separation.

Skorupksi led all Oakland players with 11 points (4-of-8 FG), three assists, and two steals in the opening half. Grim added eight points (3-of-4 FG), and Baxter tallied six points (2-of-2 3FG) and two blocks in the half.

Lewis led all scorers for the Jags in the half with 12 points (5-of-8 FG).

Oakland's defense was dominant, forcing 12 IU Indy turnovers in the half, compared to just five of their own.

Both squads saw a chilly start from the field in the second half, opening a combined 2-of-17 from the field, with each team hitting a shot.

Kylie Buckley would end Oakland's drought with a top of the key triple, followed by a midrange jumpshot from Leah Bullard as IU Indy continued their four minute long scoring drought and the game was knotted once again, this time at 38 just under halfway through the third quarter.

Despite both teams nailing five field goals in the quarter, the Jags would live at the line in the third, going 8-of-9 from the charity stripe, more than doubling Oakland's total in the quarter. Oakland's Buckley and Skorupski would both hit timely threes to keep the game close, but IU Indy led 52-46 at the end of the third quarter.

Continuing to push the pace and force a momentum swing, Jazzy Dupree-Hebert and Buckley would play strong, converting on consecutive and-ones to give Oakland a 53-52 lead with just over seven minutes to play.

Oakland would continue to dominate the fourth quarter, exploding on an 11-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 57-53 with three minutes remaining.

Skorupski would sink the dagger for Oakland, a pullup jumper with 26 seconds left, to ice the game and keep Oakland's season alive and securing the program's first Horizon League Championship win since the 2021-22 season.

Oakland held the Jags to just four points in the fourth quarter, capping off a game where IU Indy had more turnovers (20) than made field goals (16).

Oakland will head to Green Bay for their quarterfinal matchup to take on the regular season title holding Phoenix on Thursday, Mar. 6 at 8 p.m ET.
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